All the book changes in the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time
By John Fallon
Amazon’s adaptation of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time books has finally arrived, and fans new and old are enjoying what the show has to offer. The show is “a new turning of the Wheel” if you ask co-producer and author Brandon Sanderson. “It’s the same souls, but in a different actual turning of the Wheel,” he said. “It’s not the one Jim and I worked on, it’s a different version of it.”
And it’s no wonder an adaptation of 14 novels and a prequel needs some serious changes. Showrunner Rafe Judkins previously said during production that he’d be condensing the story so it’s as fluid as possible. So what changes have he and his team made so far? That’s what we’re here to explore.
Episode One: “Leavetaking”
The Women’s Circle
In the show: Nynaeave puts Egwene through a river ceremony that grants her the right to wear her hair in a braid, which will symbolize Egwene’s bond with the women of the Two Rivers and their bond to her. The ceremony also signifies Egwene entering adulthood.
In the books: In the Two Rivers district, when a girl is decided to be of marriageable age, they are granted permission by the Women’s Circle to braid their hair. The long braid is a staple of Two River’s culture. Egwene is allowed to braid her hair at the age of 17. At no point is she pushed into a river.
In the Two Rivers, most villages are sovereign, and ruled equally by both men and women, although the Wisdom — a kind of village wise woman — usually gets final say in heated discussions. The Women’s Circle is the all-female political half of the village, whose members are selected by woman and guided by the Wisdom.
The Wisdom
In the show: Wisdom’s are leaders in their village, responsible for the safety of all peoples in the community and exceptionally talented in healing and Listening to the Wind, aka predicting the weather. Nynaeve al’Meara holds the title of Wisdom of the Two Rivers, even though she is not from the area. The old Wisdom brought her to the town when Nynaeve was an orphaned baby. Despite her young age, Nynaeve is a strong and talented Wisdom, holding her braid for five years already.
In the books: Nynaeve was born in Emond’s Field, but orphaned at 14. She was taken in by the Wisdom before her, who taught Nynaeve all she knew. Five years later, she became the youngest Wisdom the Two Rivers had ever seen.
In the Two Rivers, Wisdom is the term used to describe a village healer and leader of the local Women’s Circle. It is a position of great responsibility and authority, equal to a village Mayor and often superior to him. However, unlike mayors, Wisdoms serve for life.
Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara
In the show: Perrin Aybara has a wife, named Laila who works the blacksmith forge alongside him. On the night Trollocs attack the village of Emond’s Field, Perrin and Laila defend themselves with hammer and axe. In the midst of the fight, an enraged Perrin violently kills a Trolloc before mistaking Laila as a threat and accidentally killing her, causing him great despair.
Matrim Cauthon faces trouble at home with his parents, who do a poor job of taking care of his two sisters. Lacking money for Bel Tine, he steals a piece of jewelry from Dana to sell to Padan Fain and looks to turn his fortune with gambling at the Winespring Inn.
In the books: Perrin, unmarried in the books, works as an apprentice blacksmith to Haral Luhhan in Emond’s Field. He is very strong but slow to anger, often restraining himself so as not to inadvertently harm others.
Mat and his father Abell are horse traders from Emond’s Field, the finest in the Two Rivers. The roguish Mat is described as lazy and a bit immature, although there’s no mention of his family being as dysfunctional as it is in the show.
Bel Tine
In the show: In the middle of the Bel Tine celebration, a horde of Trollocs descends upon Emond’s Field, led by a Fade. As the main village is being attacked, Rand and his father Tam are attacked by a Trolloc in their farmhouse. Tam fights if off with his heron-marked blade before taking a poisoned wound to the shoulder. In town, the Aes Sedai sorceress Moiraine and her Warder Lan defend the villagers as best they can, but most of Emond’s Field is destroyed in the fight, especially the Winespring Inn. Nynaeve is taken away by a Trolloc, but Moiraine is able to heal Tam once Rand arrives with him looking for help.
In the books: Winternight, the festival held on the night before Bel Tine, welcomes the arrival of spring. As the villagers are celebrating and Rand and Tam are away on their farm, Trollocs and a Myddraal attack Emond’s Field, and the village is saved due to the efforts of Moiraine Sedai and Lan. The difference is that, in the books, we don’t see the fight at all, but only find out the town has been destroyed once Rand and Tam arrive. Also, Nynaeve is not taken by a Trolloc.
Back at the al’Thor farm, Rand and Tam are attacked and Tam receives a deadly wound that causes a fever. While Rand carries his father to town, Tam mumbles about his past, and Rand begins to think his father may not have told him everything about his upbringing. This was cut out of the show.